Lockable valve handle



July 4, 1967 J. c. OVERBAUGH LOCKABLE VALVE HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 9, 1964 FIG. 3

lNVE/VTOR JOSEPH C. OVERBAUGH ATTORNEYS y 4, 1967 J. c. QVERBAUGHLOCKABLE VALVE HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. JOSEPH C. OVERBAUGH FIG. 6

ATTORNEYS 3,329,394 Patented July 4, 1967 fiice LOCKABLE VALVE HANDLEJoseph C. Overhaugh, Houston, Tex., assignor to The Hale Company, Tulsa,Okla., a corporation of Ohio, a wholly owned subsidiary of TheLunkenheimer Company, a Delaware corporation Filed Dec. 9, 1964, Ser.No. 417,169 4 Claims. (Cl. 251-99) This invention relates to a handlefor positioning a rtatable shaft. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a handle for positioning a valve stem. Still moreparticularly, the invention relates to a valve handle for positioningthe disc of a butterfly type valve.

The butterfly valve has found widespread application due to itssimplicity, dependability and economy of construction. Another advantageof the butterfly type valve is that it provides good throttlingcharacteristics. Typically, the butterfly valve consists of a bodyhaving a flow passageway therethrough and a relatively flat circulardisc mounted in the flow passageway. When the disc is rotated to theposition where it is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the flowpassageway opening, the opening is closed preventing fluid flowtherethrough. To move the disc to fully opened position requiresrotation of the disc only 90. Between fully opened and fully closedpositions, the valve can be used for throttling purposes. One difiicultywith the use of butterfly type valves for throttling is that, in someapplications, relatively high torques are applied to the stem by dynamicforces acting on the disc. It is therefore, important, especially when avalve is to be adapted to be utilized for throttling purposes, that adependable handle mechanism be provided to afford means of rotating thedisc from one position to another and to maintain the valve in setpositions.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a handle forpositioning a rotatable shaft.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a handlefor positioning a stem of a butterfl valve.

Still more particularly, the object of this invention is to provide ahandle for positioning a butterfly valve which:

(a) Is simply and economically constructed;

(b) Is dependable;

(c) Is simple to use (that is, a handle which is easily moved from oneposition to another but wherein it dependably remains in the setposition);

(d) Automatically locks in the position in which the handle is left asit is moved from one position to another;

(e) Is so arranged that the weight of the handle extension serves tolock the handle in the preselected position and at the same time whereina spring applies resilient force to'retain the handle in the preselectedposition; and

(f) Cannot be inadvertently left in an unlocked position.

The invention is defined in the appended claims. An exemplary embodimentof the handle of this invention is fully set forth in the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of a butterfly valve having the handle of thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of a valve having the handle of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 ofFIGURE 1, the valve not being shown.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4showing only the handle portion.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view as shown in FIG- URE 5 but showingthe handle tilted so that the valve stem can be moved from one positionto another.

This invention may be described as a handle for a valve.

vention may be described as a handle for use with a valve having arotatable stem extending therefrom, the handle being used for rotatablypositioning the stem, the handle comprising a bracket plate aflixed tothe exterior of the valve adjacent the stem, the bracket plate having amultiplicity of integral spaced tooth projections lying in a planesubstantially perpendicular the axis of the stem, the tooth projectionsbeing equidistant from the stem, a pivot block having an opening thereinreceiving the stem, the pivot block being aflixed to the stem adjacentthe bracket plate, a handle housing having a recess in the lower sideencompassing the pivot block, the handle housing pivotally supported tothe pivot block, the handle hous ing having an integral extending toothprojection normally engaging the tooth projections of the bracket plateand disengageable from the bracket plate tooth projections when thehandle housing is pivoted, an elongated handle extension aflixed at theend of the housing adjacent the said tooth projection, the handleextension-extending nor mally substantially perpendicularly of the stem,the weight of the handle extension urging the tooth projection of thehandle housing into engagement with tooth projections of the bracketplate.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, thehandle of this invention, indicated generally by the numeral 10, isaffixed to a valve, generally indicated by the numeral 12. The handle ofthis invention will be described as it is particularly adapted for usewith a butterfly valve, however, it is understood that in its broadestapplications the invention may be applied to rotatably positioning ashaft for any purpose. The handle is particularly adaptable to butterflyvalves due to the unique requirement of the type of mechanism needed forpositioning the stem of butterfly valves, and in its more limited sense,the invention can be said to comprise the combination of a butterflyvalve and the unique handle of this invention.

The valve 12 consists basically of a body 14 having a flow passageway 16therethrough. Rotatably supported in the flow passageway 16 is a valvedisc 18. The disc 18 is shown in the position wherein it issubstantially perpendicular to the axis of fiow passageway 16, closingthe valve. Integrally aflixed to and extending from the body 14 is astem neck portion 20 terminating in an integral flange 22. As best shownin FIGURE 2, a stern opening 24 is provided in the body 14 and neckportion 20; the stem opening is perpendicular to the axis of the flowpassageway 16. Rotatably positioned in stem opening 24 is a cylindricalstem 26. The disc 18 is aflixed to stem 26 such as by means of pin 28.The stem 26 extends upwardly beyond the flange 20 and it is by means ofthe externally extending portion of the stem 26 that the rotatableposition of disc 18 is controlled.

The flow passageway 16 may be defined by a resilient seat 30 againstwhich the periphery of disc 18 seals when the disc is in closed positionto prevent fluid flow through the valve. O-rings 32 are typicallyprovided to seal stem 26 and prevent leakage of fluid or gases carriedby the valve.

The description of the valve 12 to this point is that of a more or lesstypical butterfly valve. This invention is concerned not with theconstruction features of the valve but with the handle means forrotatably positioning stem 26 so that the disc 18 may be maintained in aclosed, opened, or a multiplicity of intermediate throttling positions.

The handle of this invention is best understood by referring to FIGURES4, 5, and 6. Affixed to the upper surface of flange 22 is a bracketplate 34 held by screws 36. The bracket plate includes a multiplicity ofintegral spaced tooth projections 38 lying in a plane substantiallyperpendicular the axis of stem 26 and equidistant from the stem. It canbe seen that the bracket plate 34 may be afiixed in many other waysdirectly to the valve body without the necessity of the body having aspecific flange 22. The disclosed embodiment wherein the valve body isprovided with flange 22 is, however, the preferred embodiment. Thebracket plate 34 is preferably configured to have an opening 40 thereinwhich rotatably receives stem 26. In this arrangement, the bracket plate34 supplementary serves to retain O-ring 32 in position.

A pivot block 42 is provided having a first opening 44 by which the stem26 is received and a second opening 46 by which a pin 48 is received.The stem 26 has an opening 50' aligned with opening 46 in a pivot blockfor receiving pin 48 whereby the pivot block 42 is secured to the stem26. The pivot block 42 has a third opening 52 to receive a pin for apurpose to be described subsequently.

A main element of the invention is a handle housing 54 of a relativelyrectangular cross-sectional configuration having a recess 56 in thelower side, the recess 56 substantially encompassing the pivot block 42.The handle housing 54 has openings 58 (see FIGURE 4) diametric itslength aligned with openings 52 in the pivot block 42, the alignedopenings 52 and 58 receiving a hinge pin 60 by which the handle member54 is pivotally secured to the pivot block 42. By this arrangement thehandle housing 54 is fixedly secured through pin 60 and pivot block 42to stem 26 in a plane perpendicular the axis of the stem but is pivotalin one plane of the stem axis.

As best shown in FIGURES and 6, the handle housing 54 has an integralextending tooth projection 62 which normally engages the toothprojections 38 of the bracket plate 34. Though a single tooth projection62 is shown, it can be seen that more than one of such tooth projections62 may be provided to engage, when the handle housing 54 is pivoteddownwardly, the tooth projections 38 of bracket plate 34.

In the rearward end (indicated by the numeral 54A) of housing 54, thereis provided an opening 64 receiving a handle extension 66 which may beof any length desired.

In the forward end of the handle housing 54, designated generally by thenumeral 54B, there is a threaded opening 68 which receives a threadedstud 70. The stud 70 is in substantial alignment with pin 48, theforward end of which extends beyond the pivot block 42, the stud 70 andpin 48 terminating adjacent each other. In the preferred arrangement asshown in FIGURE 5, the stud 70 is slightly upwardly of and inclined atan angle of approximately to the pin 48. As shown in FIGURE 6, the stud70 may be threadably positioned so that when handle housing 54 ispivoted to permit tooth projection 62 to clear the bracket toothprojections 38, the stud 70 engages pin 48 to limit the upper pivotationof housing 54.

Encompassing both the stud 70 and the outward extending portion of pin48 is a spring 72 applying compression force between the pivot block 42and the interior forward portion of handle housing 54. The function ofspring 72 is to urge the rearward end 54A of handle housing 54downwardly to secure the engagement of tooth projection 62 with thebracket tooth projections 38.

Operation FIGURE 5 best shows the handle of this invention in the usualor rest position. Whether the valve is opened, closed or in anyintermediate position, tooth projection 62 engages the tooth projections38 of the bracket plate 34 and prevents the rotational movement of stem26. It can be seen that two forces operate to maintain the handle inthis locked position. First, the handle is so arranged that the weightof extension 66 is applied directly to assure continuous engagement ofthe tooth projections 38 and 62. In addition, spring 72 serves to insurethe continuous engagement of the tooth projections to pre vent therotational movement of valve stem 26.

When an operator desires to change the attitude of the valve he merelyraises handle extension 66, pivoting the handle housing 54 to theattitude shown in FIGURE 6. This clears the tooth projection 62 from thebracket tooth projections 38. The operator can then rotate the handleand thereby stem 26 to the next desired position. Whether the nextpreselected position is open, closed or some intermediate throttlingposition, all the operator does is release his upward force on a handleextension 66 to return the handle to a locked position. The handle isalways in locked position and cannot be inadvertently left in anyunlocked position.

The handle of this invention is simple in construction. The operation ofthe handle is extremely elementary requiring only a few degrees ofpivotation before rotational movement is applied. The primary advantage,however, of the invention is that under no circumstances can the valvebe left in any unlocked position.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of construction and arrangement of components without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed:

1. For use with a valve having a rotatable stem extending therefrom, ahandle for rotatably positioning the stem comprising:

a bracket plate affixed to the exterior of the valve adjacent the stem,the bracket plate having a multiplicity of integral spaced toothprojections lying in a plane substantially perpendicular the axis of thestem, the tooth projections being equidistant from the stem;

a pivot block having an opening therein receiving the stem, the pivotblock being affixed to the stem adjacent the bracket plate and having aspring receiving post extending therefrom substantially perpendicularthe stem;

a handle housing having a forward and rearward end and a recess in thelower side encompassing the pivot block, the handle housing pivotallysupported to the pivot block, the handle housing having an intergalextending tooth projection at the rearward end normally engaging thetooth projections of the bracket plate and disengageable from thebracket plate tooth projections when the handle housing is pivoted, thehandle housing having a threaded opening in the forward end thereof insubstantial alignment with the spring receiving post of the pivot block;

a stud threadably positioned in said opening in the forward end of saidhousing;

a coiled spring compressibly positioned between the interior forward endof said housing and said pivot block, the spring receiving at one endthe post extending from the pivot block and at the other end the studwhereby the spring is retained in position, the spring serving to urgethe rearward end of the handle housing pivotally towards the bracketplate; and

an elongated handle extension aifixed at one end to the rearward end ofthe housing, the handle extension extending normally substantiallyperpendicular to the stem.

2. A valve comprising:

a body having a flow passageway therethrough and a stem openingintersecting the flow passageway;

a disc member pivotally supported in the body in the flow passagewayadaptable, when pivoted in one direction, to close the flow passagewayand, when pivoted in the opposite direction, to open the flowpassageway;

a stem rotatably and sealably positioned in the body stem opening, thelower end of the stem being affixed to the disc member for rotatablypositioning the disc member and the upper end of the stem terminatingexteriorly of the body;

a bracket plate aflixed to the exterior of the valve adjacent the stem,the bracket plate having a multipliction, the spring serving to urge therearward end of the handle housing pivotally towards the bracket plate;and

an elongated handle extension aflixed at one end to the ity of integralspaced tooth projections lying in a plane 5 rearward end of the housing,the handle extension exsubstantially perpendicular the axis of the stem,the tending normally substantially perpendicular to the toothprojections being equidistant from the stem; stem.

a pivot block having an opening therein receiving the 4. A valvecomprising:

stem, the pivot block being afiixed to the stern ada body having a flowpassageway therethrough and a jacent the bracket plate and having aspring receiv- 1O stern opening intersecting the fiow passageway; ingpost extending therefrom substantially perpendica disc member pivotallysupported in the body in the ular the stern; flow passageway adaptable,when pivoted in one dia handle housing having a forward and rearward endrection, to close the flow passageway and, when and a recess in thelower side encompassing the pivot pivoted in the opposite direction, toopen the flow block, the handle housing pivotally supported to thepassageway; pivot block, the handle housing having an integral exa stemrotatably and sealably positioned in the body tending tooth projectionat the rearward end normally stem opening, the lower end of the stembeing afiixed engaging the tooth projections of the bracket plate and tothe disc member for rotatably positioning the disc disengageable fromthe bracket plate tooth projecmember and the upper end of the stemterminating tions when the handle housing is pivoted, the handleeXtelioriy of the body; housing having a threaded opening in the forwarda bracket plate affixed to the exterior of the valve adend thereof insubstantial alignment with the spring jacent the stem, the bracket platehaving a multiplicity receiving post of the pivot block; of integralspaced tooth projections lying in a plane a stud threadably positionedin said opening in the forsubstantially Perpendicular the aXis of thestem, the ward end of said housing; tooth projections being equidistantfrom the stern;

a coiled spring compressibly positioned between the a pivot block havingan opening therein receiving the interior forward end of said housingand said pivot stem, the Pivot block being affiXed t0 the t m adblock,the spring receiving at one end the post exjacent the bracket plate andhaving a spring receiving t ndi f o th i ot 11 1 1 d t th th d th postextending therefrom substantially perpendicular stud whereby the springis retained in position, the the stem; spring serving to urge therearward end of the handle a handle housing having a forward andrearward end housing pivotally towa d th b k t l t d and a recess in thelower side encompassing the pivot an elongated handle extension afiixedat one end to the the handle housing pivotally supported to the housingat the rearward end thereof, the handle expi ot l k, the handle housinghaving an integral tension extending normally substantiallyperpendicueXtendihg tooth Projection at the rearward end rlarly of thestem. mally engaging the tooth projections of the bracket 3. For usewith a valve having a rotatable stern extend- Plate and disehgageahiefrom the bracket Plate P ing therefrom, a handle for rotatablypositioning the stern J'eotions When the handle housing is p comprising:a stud member aflixed to and extending from the ina b a k t plate fii dt th t i of h valve d. 40 terior forward end of said handle housing insubstanjacent the stem, the bracket plate having a multiplictiaialignment With said spring receiving P of the ity of integral spacedtooth projections lying in a Pivot hiook; plane substantiallyperpendicular the axis of the stem, 3 Coiled spring compressiblyPositioned between th inthe tooth projections being equidistant from thestem; terior forward end of said housing and said Pivot a pivot blockhaving an opening therein receiving the block, the spring receiving atone end the P t th pivot bl k b i affix d to h Stem d. tending from thepivot block and at the other end said jacent the bracket plate andhaving a spring receiving stud member whereby the spring is retained inP post extending therefrom substantially perpendicular tion, the pserving to urge the rearward d f h Stem; the. handle housing pivotallytowards the bracket a handle housing having a forward and rearward end Pand and a recess in the lower side encompassing the pivot an elongatedhandle eXtension afiiXed at ne end to the block, the handle housingpivotally supported to the housing the rearward end thereof, the handleX- pivot block, the handle housing having an integral tension extendingnormally substantially P p extending tooth projection at the rearwardend noriariy of the stemmally engaging the tooth projections of thebracket plate and disengageable from the bracket plate tooth ReferencesCited progectionsl.) when the handle housing is pivoted; UNITED STATESPATENTS a stu mem er aflixed to and extending from the ine i r f rwardend of said handle housing in substangfigig %ggg:? iii g3giavloilliagllgaent with said spring receiving post of the ILJ/ICDOHaId251 98 X a coiled spring compressibly positioned between the 2:939:6746/1960 i g gg interior forward end of said housing and said pivot block,the spring receiving at one end the post'eX- tending from the pivotblock and at the other end the stud member whereby the spring isretained in posi- M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

R. C. MILLER, Assistant Examiner.

1. FOR USE WITH A VALVE HAVING A ROTATABLE STEM EXTENDING THEREFROM, AHANDLE FOR ROTATABLY POSITIONING THE STEM COMPRISING: A BRACKET PLATEAFFIXED TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VALVE ADJACENT THE STEM, THE BRACKETPLATE HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF INTEGRAL SPACED TOOTH PROJECTIONS LYINGIN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THE AXIS OF THE STEM, THE TOOTHPROJECTIONS BEING EQUIDISTANT FROM THE STEM; A PIVOT BLOCK HAVING ANOPENING THEREIN RECEIVING THE STEM, THE PIVOT BLOCK BEING AFFIXED TO THESTEM ADJACENT THE BRACKET PLATE AND HAVING A SPRING RECEIVING POSTEXTENDING THEREFROM SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THE STEM; A HANDLEHOUSING HAVING A FORWARD AND REARWARD END AND A RECESS IN THE LOWER SIDEENCOMPASSING THE PIVOT BLOCK, THE HANDLE HOUSING PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED TOTHE PIVOT BLOCK, THE HANDLE HOUSING HAVING AN INTEGRAL EXTENDING TOOTHPROJECTION AT THE REARWARD END NORMALLY ENGAGING THE TOOTH PROJECTIONSOF THE BRACKET PLATE AND DISENGAGEABLE FROM THE BRACKET PLATE TOOTHPROJECTIONS WHEN THE HANDLE HOUSING IS PIVOTED, THE HANDLE HOUSINGHAVING A THREADED OPENING IN THE FORWARD END THEREOF IN SUBSTANTIALALIGNMENT WITH THE SPRING RECEIVING POST OF THE PIVOT BLOCK; A STUDTHREADABLY POSITIONED IN SAID OPENING IN THE FORWARD END OF SAIDHOUSING; A COILED SPRING COMPRESSIBLY POSITIONED BETWEEN THE INTERIORFORWARD END OF SAID HOUSING AND SAID PIVOT BLOCK, THE SPRING RECEIVINGAT ONE END THE POST EXTENDING FROM THE PIVOT BLOCK AND AT THE OTHER ENDTHE STUD WHEREBY THE SPRING IS RETAINED IN POSITION, THE SPRING SERVINGTO URGE THE REARWARD END OF THE HANDLE HOUSING PIVOTALLY TOWARDS THEBRACKET PLATE; AND AN ELONGATED HANDLE EXTENDING AFFIXED AT ONE END TOTHE REARWARD END OF THE HOUSING, THE HANDLE EXTENSION EXTENDING NORMALLYSUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE STEM.